Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 466
H. B. OSBURN, one of the early settlers of this county, residing on section 24, Wapsinonoc Township, was born in Greene County, N. Y., in 1818, and of that State his parents, Jeremiah and Lydia ( Parker ) Osburn, were also natives. The father was a blacksmith by trade, and in 1819, when our subject was but an infant, emigrated to Ohio, locating in Meigs County, where he entered land and developed a farm. In that county he resided until 1854, when with his family he started for Iowa, but on reaching St. Louis, Mo., was stricken with cholera and died. The family continued their journey to Davenport, near which city Mr. Osburn had entered 160 acres of land in 1853, where the widowed mother continued to reside until her death.

Our subject was reared upon a farm in Meigs County, Ohio, and in 1854 came with his mother to Iowa, making his home near Davenport until 1870, when he removed to Muscatine County, settling in Wapsinonoc Township. Purchasing sixty acres of land on section 24, he immediately began its cultivation, and has since made his home upon that farm. In his political sentiments he is a supporter of the Republican party, and religiously, he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is numbered among the leading citizens of Wapsinonoc Township, and is a man who takes great interest in the welfare of the community in which he resides.

In 1838 Mr. Osburn was united in marriage with Nancy A. Birch, a native of New York, and by their union twelve children have been born. nine of whom are living: Arrisia, the eldest, is the wife of Sidney Stewart, of Meigs County, Ohio; James, is a steam boat agent residing in Davenport, Iowa; Mary is the wife of Simeon Calder, of Nebraska; William, is engaged in carpentering in Broken Bow, Neb.; Betsy is the widow of Charles Belkon, and resides in Savannah, Ill.; Jennie is the wife of Bentley Luse, of West Liberty, Iowa; Sherwood, who is now the manager of the home farm in Wapsinonoc Township; Lincoln, a salesman of Broken Bow, Neb.; and George, whose home is in Davenport. Willie was drowned in the Ohio River when but three years of age; Newton was drowned at Davenport; Hiram died at the age of two years. Mr. and Mrs. Osburn are held in high regard by a large circle of friends and acquaintances, and none are more worthy of the esteem and confidence of the citizens of Muscatine County than this worthy couple. Sherwood Osburn, who is tenth in order of birth, has charge of the home farm. He was united in marriage, Dec. 15, 1885, with Miss Hattie Hunter, a native of Muscatine County, and a daughter of Joseph and Mary ( Shular ) Hunter, whose sketch appears on another page of this work. Two children have been born of their union, Edna H. and Nancy B. Mr. Osburn is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while his wife is a member of the Christian Church.

---

Back to 1889 History of Muscatine Co. Index Page

Back to the Muscatine Co. IAGenWeb Index Page